Tracking and Managing Assets

Abstract

A system and method including a local network formed of a plurality of identification devices that are operable to initiate communication with other identification devices to form the local network and are further operable to poll other identification devices, each identification device in wireless communication with at least one other identification device such that each identification device is capable of direct or indirect communication with other identification devices in the network. A gateway in wireless communication with the local network can allow direct or indirect communication between the gateway and each identification device in the local network. A central shipment controller can be configured to communicate with the gateway and is operable to receive data from and transmit data to the local network via the gateway. Each identification device can include a local device controller operable to switch the identification device between device operating states.

1 . A munitions transactions system comprising:
 a local network formed of a plurality of identification devices, each identification device associated with an asset, the identification devices operable to initiate communication with other identification devices to form the local network and are further operable to poll other identification devices to determine which identification devices are present in the network, each identification device in wireless communication with at least one other identification device such that each identification device is capable of direct or indirect communication with other identification devices in the network;   a gateway in wireless communication with the local network via at least one of the plurality of identification devices to allow direct or indirect communication between the gateway and each identification device in the local network;   a central shipment controller configured to communicate with the gateway, the central shipment controller operable to receive data from and transmit data to the local network via the gateway; and   a secondary shipment controller configured to communicate with the local network and to communicate with the central shipment controller, the secondary shipment controller operable to generate and transmit a receipt to the central shipment controller upon arrival of one of the assets at a destination;   wherein each identification device has a plurality of operating states, and includes a local device controller operable to switch the identification device between device operating states.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each identification device includes stored data including data required to enable accountable record transactions. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the stored data includes a destination code and a priority code generated by the central shipment controller. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each identification device has an associated status code that includes information selected from a group consisting of transit status information, alert indicators, and movement flags. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the local device controller is operable to generate the status code. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the local device controller is operable to switch the identification device between device operating states having different network polling rates based at least in part on the status code. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the local network includes an environmental condition sensor and wherein the identification devices are operable to store environmental data received from the environmental condition sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a global positioning system unit in communication with the gateway. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gateway is a mobile gateway with a first communication unit and a satellite communication unit, the mobile gateway configured to communicate with the central shipment controller using the first communication unit when infrastructure for the first communication unit is available and to communicate with the central shipment controller using the satellite communication unit when the infrastructure for the first communication unit is not available. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first communication unit comprises a cellular communication unit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first communication unit is configured to connect to the Internet. 
     
     
         12 . A munitions transfer method comprising:
 self forming a first local network from a plurality of identification devices, each identification device associated with an asset, the identification devices operable to initiate communication with other identification devices to form the local network and are further operable to poll other identification devices to determine which identification devices are present in the network, each identification device in wireless communication with at least one other identification device such that each identification device is capable of direct or indirect communication with other identification devices in the network;   communicating availability of assets associated with the plurality of identification devices forming the local network to a central shipment controller via a gateway in communication with the local network;   using the central shipment controller to generate a shipment order in response to an ammunition request, the shipment order including destination and priority codes for ordered assets associated with a first subset of devices of the plurality of identification devices;   communicating the destination and priority codes from the central shipment controller to the first subset of devices; and   using a secondary shipment controller to generate a receipt upon arrival of the ordered assets.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising using one of the central shipment controller or the secondary shipment controller to revise one of the destination code in response to receipt of a higher priority ammunition request. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising setting a device status code and storing the device status code in memory included in an associated identification device, the status code including at least one of a transit status flag, an environmental condition flag, a movement flag, and a power status flag. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising switching the identification device between device operating states having different network polling rates based at least in part on the status code. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising monitoring an environmental condition sensor included on one of the identification devices. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising establishing communications between the gateway and one of the central and secondary shipment controllers using a first communication unit when infrastructure for the first communication unit is available and using a satellite communication unit when the infrastructure for the first communication unit is not available. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising using a parent identification device to conduct a local network poll to determine which identification devices are present in the network. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising using the parent identification device to reform the local network if the identification devices present changed from a previous network poll. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising communicating to the gateway a listing of identification devices present at the previous network poll that did not respond to the current network poll. 
     
     
         21 . An asset inventory tracking system comprising:
 a local network formed of a plurality of identification devices, each identification device associated with an asset, the identification devices operable to initiate communication with other identification devices to form the local network and are further operable to poll other identification devices to determine which identification devices are present in the network, each identification device in wireless communication with at least one other identification device such that each identification device is capable of direct or indirect communication with other identification devices in the network;   a gateway in wireless communication with the local network via at least one of the plurality of identification devices to allow direct or indirect communication between the gateway and each identification device in the local network; and   a central shipment controller configured to communicate with the gateway, the central shipment controller operable to receive data from and transmit data to the local network via the gateway;   wherein each identification device has a plurality of operating states and includes a local device controller operable to switch the identification device between device operating states.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein each identification device has an associated data set to accomplish transactions. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the data sets are generated by the central shipment controller. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a secondary shipment controller configured to communicate with the gateway and to communicate with the central shipment controller. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the local device controller is operable to switch the identification device between device operating states having different network polling rates based at least in part on a device status code that includes at least one of a transit status flag, an environmental condition flag, a movement flag, and a power status flag. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the local network includes an environmental condition sensor and the identification devices are operable to store environmental condition data. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the gateway is a mobile gateway with a first communication unit and a satellite communication unit, the mobile gateway configured to communicate with the central shipment controller using the first communication unit when infrastructure for the first communication unit is available and to communicate with the central shipment controller using the satellite communication unit when the infrastructure for the first communication unit is not available. 
     
     
         28 . An identification tag comprising:
 a power supply;   wireless communications circuitry powered by the power supply; and   a controller powered by the power supply, the controller configured to operate the communications circuitry to communicate with a second identification tag and further configured to switch the identification tag from a first operating state to a second operating state.   
     
     
         29 . The identification tag of  claim 28 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the communications circuitry to receive data specific to a plurality of other identification tags, to generate a combined data signal based on data specific to the identification tag with the data specific to the plurality of other identification tags, and to transmit the combined data signal. 
     
     
         30 . The identification tag of  claim 29 , wherein the controller is configured to select a third identification tag and to transmit the combined data signal information to the third identification tag. 
     
     
         31 . The identification tag of  claim 30 , wherein the controller is configured to select the third identification tag based at least in part on a low power signal transmitted by another identification tag. 
     
     
         32 . The identification tag of  claim 28 , further comprising an environmental sensor and the controller is configured to generate a status code based on readings of the environmental sensor. 
     
     
         33 . The identification tag of  claim 28 , wherein the controller is configured to check for the presence of a network of linked identification tags upon activation of the identification tag. 
     
     
         34 . The identification tag of  claim 28 , wherein the first operating state has a first network polling rate and the second operating state has a second network polling rate and the controller is configured to switch the identification tag between the first operating state and the second operating state based at least in part on a status code including at least one of a transit status flag, an environmental condition flag, a movement flag, and a power status flag. 
     
     
         35 . The identification tag of  claim 28 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the wireless communications circuitry when the identification tag is in the first operating state and an alternate communications device when the identification tag is in the second operating state. 
     
     
         36 . The identification tag of  claim 28 , wherein the identification tag is configured to use less power in the first operating state than in the second operating state. 
     
     
         37 . The identification tag of  claim 36 , wherein the controller is configured to switch the identification tag from the first operating state to the second operating state in response to a signal from a motion detector. 
     
     
         38 . The identification tag of  claim 28 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a request to join a detected network of identification tags when the identification tag is in the first operating state. 
     
     
         39 . The identification tag of  claim 38 , wherein the controller is configured to form a new network when the identification tag is in the second operating state.